Drug policy news covering legalization efforts, DEA enforcement, opioid crisis, marijuana laws, and substance regulation developments.
Illinois lawmakers passed a bill banning sales of intoxicating hemp except by state-licensed dispensaries, pending the governor's signature. The measure targets unlicensed shops selling untested products to minors but would also affect businesses selling tested hemp to adults. The ban, broader than a similar federal law, takes effect in November.
The death of Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has intensified scrutiny on the substance kratom. Clarke was charged with felony drug trafficking in Arkansas after a traffic stop found 235 grams of kratom. Tennessee will ban or restrict kratom starting July 1, joining two dozen other states.
This commentary argues that the Trump administration's executive order banning federal funding for harm reduction programs has created confusion and fear among providers, leading to self-censorship and program cuts. It contends that the administration's targeting of the term 'harm reduction' risks obscuring lifesaving treatments and undermining progress in reducing overdose deaths.
The commentary argues that marijuana legalization has failed to eliminate the black market, instead creating a legal industry that markets cannabis and drives demand while illegal dealers undercut prices. It contends that legalization has not reduced use but has increased it, citing declining legal sales in California alongside rising overall consumption.